Apparatuses, systems, and methods for controlling one or more assemblies of an energy generation system

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for controlling one or more assemblies of an energy generation system. The method may include selecting at least a portion of the one or more assemblies, transmitting at least one control signal associated with the selected at least a portion of the one or more assemblies, receiving the control signal at a communication module of the one or more assemblies, and modifying an operational parameter of the one or more assemblies responsive to the received control signal to avoid contact between the one or more assemblies and livestock. The operational parameter may be associated with a position of the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies relative to a ground surface. The operational parameter may additionally or alternatively be a range of angle of the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling one or more assemblies of an energy generation system, the method comprising:
 providing one or more assemblies, each of the one or more assemblies including:
 one or more solar cells configured to capture solar energy, 
 a panel actuator configured to manipulate the position of the one or more solar cells within a range of angles from parallel to a ground surface, 
 a communication module configured to receive a control signal, and 
 a processor configured to control the panel actuator to manipulate position of the one or more solar cells: 
 
 selecting at least a portion of the one or more assemblies; 
 transmitting at least one control signal to the selected one or more assemblies; 
 receiving the at least one control signal at the selected one or more assemblies, wherein the at least one control signal places the selected one or more assemblies in either:
 a standard tracking mode, wherein the panel actuator is configured to position the one or more solar cells at any angle within the range of angles from parallel to the ground surface or 
 a grazing mode, wherein the panel actuator is configured to restrict the position of the one or more solar cells to +/− 20 degrees from parallel to the ground; and 
 
 placing the selected one or more assemblies in either the standard tracking mode or the grazing mode in response to the received at least one control signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 defining a current use region encompassing at least a portion of the one or more assemblies based on the presence or expected presence of livestock; and 
 sending the at least one control signal to place at least a portion of the selected one or more assemblies that are disposed within the current use region into the grazing mode. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising sending the at least one control signal to place at least a portion of the selected one or more assemblies that are disposed outside of the current use region into the standard tracking mode. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the range of the angles of the one or more solar cells is +/−50 degrees from parallel to the ground surface when the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies are in the standard tracking mode. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the range of the angles of the one or more solar cells is between +/−60 degrees from parallel to the ground surface when the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies are in the standard tracking mode. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the range of the angles is configured to provide a vertical clearance distance between a lowest solar cell of the one or more solar cells of the at least a portion of one or more assemblies and the ground surface. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies are disposed in a plurality of livestock paddocks. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one control signal is transmitted from a user device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the selecting the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies is performed using the user device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising defining a current use region encompassing at least a portion of the one or more assemblies based on the presence or expected presence of livestock, placing at least a portion of the one or more assemblies that are disposed within the current use region into the grazing mode, and placing at least a portion of the one or more assemblies that are disposed outside of the current use region into the standard tracking mode. 
     
     
       11. A method of controlling an energy generation system, the method comprising:
 providing an energy generation system including one or more assemblies disposed in a plurality of regions, each assembly comprising:
 one or more solar cells configured to capture solar energy, 
 a panel actuator configured to manipulate the position of the one or more solar cells within a range of angles from parallel to a ground surface, 
 a communication module configured to receive a control signal, and 
 a processor configured to control the panel actuator to manipulate position of the one or more solar cells; 
 
 capturing solar energy using the one or more assemblies; 
 selecting one or more of the plurality of regions as a current use region based on the presence or expected presence of livestock in the one or more of the plurality regions; 
 transmitting at least one control signal to the one or more assemblies; and 
 receiving the at least one control signal at the one or more assemblies, wherein the at least one control signal places at least a portion of the one or more assemblies in either:
 a standard tracking mode if the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies are disposed outside of the current use region, wherein in the standard tracking mode, the panel actuator is configured to position the one or more solar cells at any angle within the range of angles from parallel to the ground surface or 
 a grazing mode if the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies are disposed within the current use region, wherein in the grazing mode, the panel actuator is configured to restrict the position of the one or more solar cells to +/− 20 degrees from parallel to the ground. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the range of the angles of the one or more solar cells is between +/−50 degrees from parallel to the ground surface in the standard tracking mode. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the range of the angles of the one or more solar cells is between +/−60 degrees from parallel to the ground surface in the standard tracking mode. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining the movement or expected movement of livestock from a first of the plurality of regions that is the current use region to a second of the plurality of regions; 
 selecting the second of the plurality of regions as the current use region based on the determining of the movement or expected movement of the livestock from the first of the plurality of regions to the second of the plurality of regions; and 
 transmitting a control signal to one or more of the plurality of assemblies disposed in the second of the plurality of regions to place the one or more of the plurality of assemblies disposed in the second of the plurality of regions into the grazing mode. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 selecting at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality of assemblies disposed in the first of the plurality of regions; 
 transmitting at least one control signal to the at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality of assemblies disposed in first of the plurality of regions; and 
 placing the at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality of assemblies disposed in the first of the plurality of regions into the standard tracking mode responsive to the at least one control signal.